The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is asking for strengthening the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors for combating the Coronavirus crisis. “The private sector can support the government in medical facilities, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment”, said CII.

CII suggested that hospitals in larger cities, and
district hospitals in smaller cities and towns, should be identified or
designated as COVID hospital for testing and isolation of patients.
Private sector hospitals can contribute to the required equipment and the
manpower.

The trade body further suggested the adoption of wide
scale tele-consultation to tackle the spread of COVID-19, especially in its
phase 3 and 4. On strengthening pharmaceuticals industry CII said that,
the current situation makes a compelling case for the government to declare
active pharmaceutical ingredient as a strategic sector as most inputs are
imported. The industry body is also suggesting that firms with low capacity
utilization of 40 per cent may be permitted to produce API which are being
imported. Approvals for new investments should be fast-tracked. CII has
proposed that blanket environment permission be provided to manufacture any API
on submission of self-certification to comply with pollution load
requirement.

Other recommendations are to strengthen API and
intermediates production in the country including creation of large API parks
with fiscal benefits for existing API and intermediates plants, supportive
regulatory framework and common infrastructure facilitating single window
clearances for API parks; boosting drug formulations from indigenous API and
its intermediates and providing incentives for new product development,
processes and technology, among others.

The industry body estimates the outbreak could lead to
significant shortage of supply in the medical technology sector as well,
especially for critical medicines and medical devices such as thermometers,
nebulizers, glucometers, etc. “The medical devices market too is heavily
import dependent, at around 70-80 per cent with imaging equipment (CT
& MRI scanners), cardiac stents, orthopedic implants, glucometers, and
critical care equipment cornering a large share. Many raw materials and
components are imported from China,” it said.

While the real impact on industry is likely to be visible
only after April 2020, the local manufacturer’s capacities will need to be
bolstered which would likely become reliable sources amidst global shortages,
said CII.